The Monastery of the Holy Virgin of
Bishoi (Wadi Natrun, Egypt) was founded in the 6th century, but
since Syrian monks joined the Coptic community around 800AD it was better known
as Deir al-Surian, the Syrian monastery. For centuries monks of the two denominations
lived together, creating an environment where material and immaterial heritage
of the Coptic and Syriac Orthodox Churches were brought together, resulting in
a unique library and a church with extraordinary wall paintings. Most of these
paintings vanished out of sight when they

were covered by plaster in the 18 th
century. Since 1996 these paintings are gradually uncovered and give us an
impression of the Syrian influence on Egyptian Christianity. In this lecture
special attention will be given to the most recent discoveries of the past two
years.

About Me

I have studied Theology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Theology, International Relations at the University of London (Queen Mary). My Master's Thesis was published as a book: 'The Aegean Sea Dispute Between Greece and Turkey - The Consequences for NATO and the EU'. For more information see: http://www.akakia.net/el/the-aegean-sea-dispute-between-greece-and-turkey
I have also studied Byzantine Music in Athens and I am currently undertaking a research on the “Fellowship of St. Alban and St. Sergius and its contribution towards Anglican – Orthodox Relations”, at the University of Winchester.
I also represent the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain at the A.E.C.A. If you wish to contact me you can email me: demetrifs1@yahoo.com